Arlington Public Works employees use The Big Sidewalk Sucker to lift a concrete panel from the sidewalk. The device saves the city some money and time to level ground below the concrete. (Arlington Public Works)

Public works crews can remove heavy concrete panels from sidewalks, so the ground underneath can be restored.

A $7,670 device is saving Arlington thousands of dollars on sidewalk repairs.

The Big Sidewalk Sucker — yes, that’s actually its name — can lift up to 2,500 lbs. using a vacuum seal. Most of the city’s concrete sidewalk panels are 5-feet-by-5-feet, 4 inches deep and don’t weigh that much, Arlington maintenance and operations manager Jay Downing said.

Instead of demolishing slabs to prune roots and smooth ground underneath, the device picks it up to be used again later.

Over the past few years, the city has repaired about 1,000 feet of sidewalk using the tool.

“This machine helps us avoid having to remove otherwise good condition sidewalk,” he said. “It saves a ton in concrete and labor.”

Before getting the Big Sidewalk Sucker, the city’s sidewalk projects took a lot of time and money. Crews would break up the sidewalk, dig into the ground, trim tree roots, redo the ground with pea gravel and root barrier, and contract with a company to pour the concrete.

Now the city can do most of that, including some of the concrete pouring, without contractors. That saves some time in scheduling, though it is faster to just demolish concrete than it is to carefully lift and place it.

The city’s recently wrapped sidewalk repair program covered 175 feet that needed ground work. But only about 45 feet of sidewalk needed concrete poured because the rest was lifted by the Big Sidewalk Sucker.

A crew of three people works the new device.

One person operates the excavator, which holds the Big Sidewalk Sucker with chains. Another maneuvers it and the concrete panel using handles, and a third is there to assist and make sure nobody is walking through the area. No one wants several hundred pounds of sidewalk falling on their foot.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces,” Downing said.

Arlington followed the lead of DuPont, a city of over 10,000 residents in Pierce County, which got a Big Sidewalk Sucker in 2016. The city bought it for $8,699 and touted it for saving money in sidewalk repair costs. It has become an important enough tool that DuPont bought a backup unit the next year.

Snohomish County Public Works is in on The Big Sidewalk Sucker, too. Or at least that technology. The county bought a sidewalk panel lifter for $8,319.68 in October.

Crews use it where more common cast-in-place maintenance work is no longer necessary. But some concrete panels are damaged beyond reuse with the tool.

Snohomish County maintains over 500 miles of sidewalks, with most in the southwest area. Reports from the public help identify where problems are and where to prioritize maintenance work, spokesperson Matt Phelps said.

Have a question? Call 425-339-3037 or email streetsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your first and last name and city of residence. Talk to us You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428. If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. More contact information is here.

Jacob Weigert was running across State Route 20 toward a bus stop when he was hit Wednesday morning.

The man is wanted on multiple warrants, including one for attempted murder, according to police. No one was hurt.

It’s called the Village of Hope. Monthly culture nights will feature classes in Lushootseed and “Tulalip cooking.”

The man in his 30s was shot Sunday night. No arrests had been made.

Public works crews can remove heavy concrete panels from sidewalks, so the ground underneath can be restored.

Snohomish County’s preferred plan aims to reduce conflict among hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

Holland Marsh near Granite Falls is named for forestry teacher, fire lookout and author of “Switchbacks” Andy Holland.

Martin McFalls led the agency since 2015. “The board felt it was time to go a different direction. No harm, no foul.”

Mill Creek police haven’t made any arrests in the killing of Nathaniel Grimmett, 43, over a month ago.

City Council passed a resolution urging access to abortion be carved into the state and U.S. constitutions.

Prosecutors allege Daniel Rodrigues was driving under the influence when he killed Daniel Brakke last month.

A roundup of our coverage: Advancements in DNA technology have led to several cold cases becoming solved.

On June 27, Anthony Palko, 33, died in a crash with a car. Friends are pushing the sheriff’s office for details.

Construction timetable calls for opening of Woods Coffee and Sound 2 Summit Brewery in March 2023

Police is seeking the public’s help in locating Lane Scott Phipps, 26, who eluded arrest following pursuit

Public works crews planted trees and piled up “woody debris” to mimic nature. It’s to make up for environmental impacts.

© 2022, Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc.